February 15, 1999

Traveling to Piscataway, N.J., for its last meet before the Big East Championships, the Villanova swimming and diving team split with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Wildcat women defeated Rutgers 140-96, while the Villanova men lost to the Knights 129-81.

Junior Keri Thorne led the Wildcat women with two individual victories. Thorne recorded wins in the 1,000 yard freestyle with a time of 10:27.91, and the 400 yard individual medley with a time of 4:36.61. Freshman Valerie Mesplier, new to the Villanova swim team, won her first collegiate event with a victory in the 200 yard butterfly (2:06.78).

The Wildcats dominated the freestyle events on the afternoon, as senior Kristin Stretanski won the 50 yard freestyle (24.37), sophomore Kristen Olson took the 200 yard freestyle (1:51.88), and sophomore Katie Armitage posted a victory in the 500 yard freestyle (5:03.06). Other Villanova winners included senior Jackie Gruters in the 200 yard backstroke (2:06.55) and freshman Brooke Corby in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:06.93).

In women's relay competition, two Wildcat relay teams brought home individual victories. A contingient of Elizabeth Lauwaert, Tara Brock, Maddy Crippen and Olson defeated Rutgers in the 400 yard freestyle relay (3:34.11), and the Villanova 400 yard medley relay team of Julie Lapinsky, Corby, Danielle Macejka and Brock won the event in a time of 4:00.87.

In men's competition, two Wildcats tallied individual victories. Sophomore Tom Dion recorded a victory in the 1,000 yard freestyle in a time of 10:04.04, while senior John Proto won the 200 yard breaststroke (2:16.81).

The Wildcats will not compete again until the Big East Championships which will be held on February 25-27 in Uniondale, N.Y.